2022 Irish Grand National pinstickers' guide: quotes and ratings for every horse
A full field of 30 runners will go to post for the 150th running of Irish racing's most celebrated chase, but who will come out on top? Read our runner-by-runner guide featuring top trainer quotes and star ratings for the big race live on RTÉ and ITV at 5.00 on Easter Monday.
5.00 Fairyhouse Monday: BoyleSports Irish Grand National card and betting
1 Franco De Port
Star rating: **
Grade 1-winning novice over two miles and was second to Longhouse Poet in the Thyestes. Is 5lb higher now and stats are against topweights.
Trainer Willie Mullins:"He's got plenty of weight but hopefully Jack Foley's 5lb claim will be a help to him. If he has a trouble-free round then hopefully he might have an each-way chance."
2 Battleoverdoyen
Star rating: **
Former classy staying novice who chased Envoi Allen home in a 2m Grade 1 at Christmas. Ran better than finishing position suggests in the Topham but has a hefty burden.
Trainer Gordon Elliott: "He could never really get into the Topham and he looks to have plenty on his plate off his mark here."
3 Run Wild Fred
Star rating: **
Early Aintree Grand National faller was second here in 2021. Is 15lbs higher now having also won the Troytown off a 5lb higher mark.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"He was second in this race last year and has had a fine season. He's obviously much higher in the weights this time around, but I'd like to think he could run another big race with Rob James taking off a valuable 5lb."
4 Gaillard Du Mesnil
Star rating: ***
The mount of the champion jockey has been set a stiff task on his handicap debut but his form demands as much. Seemed to stay three miles at Cheltenham and novices have a good record.
Rider Paul Townend: "The ground will be better than it was at Cheltenham. The trip is an unknown but my worry is the weight. They are claiming off the three horses above him in the handicap, so he is going to carry the most weight, which isn't ideal, but we couldn't be happier with him."
5 Mount Ida
Star rating: ****
Despite last year's Kim Muir success at the Cheltenham Festival, this classy mare is best right-handed, conceding 3lb to Elimay when a brave winner here on her latest clockwise outing. Exited at first fence in the Grand National but is a player under Davy Russell.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"She was much more straightforward prior to Cheltenham but she jumped poorly there and nothing went right. She's back going the right way round this time and she could run a big race if she's on her game."
6 Ronald Pump
Star rating: **
Twice second to Honeysuckle here in Grade 1 races. Returned to fences for just a fourth time and a first in two years when denied by Diol Kerr off a 5lb lower mark in a 3m½f chase at Naas. Diminutive type and possibly finds chasing hard work.
Trainer Matthew Smith: "We were delighted with his run in the Leinster National. He's won around Fairyhouse a few times already, including his beginners' chase. If he jumps around and gets a clear run we hope he can run a nice race."
7 Farclas
Star rating: ****
Former Triumph winner hasn't scored for almost three years but ran well when just a seven-year-old in last year's Aintree Grand National and was second to Run Wild Fred in the Troytown. Has a top claimer on board.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"We kept him away from Aintree to wait for this and you'd like to think he's got a big shout. He has some quality form in a lot of the big handicaps and comes here fresh. He ticks a lot of boxes and Shane Fitzgerald takes off 5lb."
8 Early Doors
Star rating: **
The 2020 Galway Plate hero is unexposed at longer distances and was placed on both runs over three miles, including when second to Apple's Jade in a Grade 1 contest. Is 9lb higher than for his Galway win and needs to find that form again.
Trainer Joseph O'Brien:"He's obviously been a Galway Plate winner in the past. I was happy enough with his run at Navan and he seems well in himself."
9 Enjoy D'Allen
Star rating: ***
Last year's third unseated at the first in the Aintree Grand National but is only 6lb higher than 12 months ago and remains unexposed.
Trainer Ciaran Murphy:"We had been training him for Aintree and it was unfortunate that he came down early. We've freshened him up since coming home. He likes this track so hopefully he can run a nice race."
10 Samcro
Non-runner
11 Diol Ker
Star rating: **
Consistent sort gained a deserved win when beating Ronald Pump and Franco De Port at Naas. Is 10lb higher but has scope to improve.
Trainer Noel Meade:"Fingers crossed they'll put enough water on it. There's rain in the forecast so we're hoping the ground will be okay. He stays strongly. It's the Irish National and you need luck in running but hopefully he'll run well."
12 Screaming Colours
Star rating: ***
Veteran stayer was an emphatic victor of the Midlands National. Has a fabulous record in this sort of race and is one to consider at big odds under Jamie Codd.
Trainer Bill Durkan: "We'd like to see some rain for him. Hopefully if things went right he might be able to hit the frame. He's a genuine horse who has had a few setbacks but isn't over-raced. He goes there in good form."
13 Off You Go
Star rating: ***
Beat Minella Times at Leopardstown last year. Didn't build on that when sixth in this race last year but is 3lb lower now and could run well for Aidan Coleman.
Trainer Charles Byrnes:"We're hoping that the rain stays away. He's wearing cheekpieces for the first time and fingers crossed it can help sharpen up his jumping. If he gets into a rhythm then hopefully he could run a big race."
14 Death Duty
Star rating: *
Punchestown Grand National trial success was a first in more than four years. Nicely handicapped but didn't get far at Aintee and isn't one to trust.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"I thought he ran well in the Ultima prior to Aintree. Jack [Kennedy] just thought he got a bit outpaced coming down the hill there and stayed on again. He's not too badly handicapped and has a chance."
15 Max Flamingo
Star rating: ***
Handicap hurdle winner here in 2021 is 24lb higher now but is unexposed over fences. Confidence-boosting Thurles win will have left him spot on.
Trainer Francis Casey:"Everything has been geared towards this since November. I'm convinced he will stay and, with a bit of luck in running, I think he's going to take a bit of beating."
16 Fakir D'Alene
Star rating: **
Stamina looked to run out when tiring into fourth in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Is open to improvement but might not be quite up to this.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"He ran a big race to finish fourth in the Kim Muir and would have finished even closer had he not missed the last. I've always like the Kim Muir as a trial for the Irish National and this fella could run well."
17 Velvet Elvis
Star rating: *****
Got off the mark at the fourth time of asking over fences when impressive at Navan. Is 10lb higher but is a player off a low weight for the winning stable in 2012.
Trainer Tom Gibney:"You don't know whether he will stay until you try, but I think he will. The key thing is the ground. He needs plenty of cut, so I'll be praying for all the rain that's in the forecast. I thought he did it very nicely at Navan last time."
18 School Boy Hours
Star rating: **
The Paddy Power Chase winner has failed to fire at either Cheltenham or Aintree and has something to prove now.
Trainer Noel Meade:"He seems to have been fine since Aintree. He was pulled up after knocking the top off [Valentine's] before Minella Times landed on his back. You don't know how it will impact him but he seems grand."
19 Floueur
Star rating: **
Unexposed course winner whose best piece of form came when third to Death Duty at Punchestown in February. Will relish a test but needs to improve.
Trainer Gordon Elliott: "I'd say he found the ground a bit quick in the Ultima at Cheltenham. He's better than that and he's one I wouldn't be ruling out. He's only seven and there could be more to come."
20 Ten Ten
Star rating: ****
Stays well and ran a lovely race behind the exciting Carrig Sam here over hurdles in February. Seems to finish second or not complete but is the choice of Mark Walsh.
Trainer Philip Dempsey: "We're happy with him at home. If he gets a clear round then hopefully he can run well."
21 Lieutenant Command
Non-runner
22 Aramax
Star rating: **
Stamina an unknown and wasn't running too well in the autumn, but is just 1lb higher than when winning the 2020 Fred Winter. May be unwise to discount.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"He's not a bad horse on his day and doesn't have much mileage on the clock either. He comes here fresh and, if he happened to get into a nice rhythm through the early part of the race, he could run well."
23 Frontal Assault
Star rating: **
A maiden after four chase starts but seems to relish a staying trip. Flopped at Cheltenham, so this looks a big ask under Jack Kennedy.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"Jack [Kennedy] has picked him. He ran really well in a beginners' chase here and we thought he had a big chance going into the Kim Muir. Things didn't go his way there but the track, the trip and the ground should all suit him here."
24 Time To Get Up
Star rating: ***
Lightly raced sort who relishes extreme distances, including when third in Uttoxeter's Midlands Grand National, a race he won last year. Place chance.
Jockey Robbie Power: "He won the Midlands National at Uttoxeter last year, so the trip won't be an issue for him. Provided the ground doesn't get too quick, that shouldn't be a problem either. Fingers crossed he'll run a big race."
25 Champagne Platinum
Star rating: **
Split Death Duty and Floueur at Punchestown in February after winning at Navan but misfired last time.
Trainer Enda Bolger: "The more water they put on and the more rain that falls, the better it will suit him. I think he'll enjoy the trip. We'll be hoping he might be able to get into the placings."
26 Full Time Score
Star rating: ****
Has only run a handful of times but was a taking winner here over three miles in February. Inexperience a concern but is progressive, has a lovely weight and Rachael Blackmore's assistance.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead: "He seems in good form. It looks like he has a nice racing weight but we'd like to see some rain come for him."
27 Mister Fogpatches
Star rating: ***
Consistent stayer and has Danny Mullins in the plate. Knocking on the door in many of the top handicaps and could rattle this off a low weight in first-time cheekpieces.
Jockey Danny Mullins: "The ground drying out helps him over this sort of trip and his weight is a big advantage in a stamina test. His third in the Thyestes behind Longhouse Poet and Franco De Port reads quite well now. He was third to Run Wild Fred in the Troytown too. I think he's got a big chance."
28 Streets Of Doyen
Star rating: **
Outclassed behind L'Homme Presse at Cheltenham but is a game stayer who could run into the places at big odds despite inexperience.
Jockey Brian Hayes: "He'd love good ground. I think if he brings his third in last year's Albert Bartlett to the table he could hopefully run a nice race."
29 Lord Lariat
Star rating: **
Represents last year's winning stable and generally goes well around here, but was no match for Full Time Score last time.
Trainer Dermot McLoughlin: "We know he stays well and he likes the track. He probably needs to improve plenty but it's an Irish National and anything can happen."
30 Smoking Gun
Star rating: **
Won last year's Porterstown over course and distance but is probably one of the more exposed runners.
Trainer Gordon Elliott:"He won the Porterstown here over the same trip as the National and if he runs up to that sort of form he could sneak into the places."
Read more on the Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse:
2022 Irish Grand National: the runners, the odds, the verdict
Big-race tips: why this horse can win the 2022 Irish Grand National
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